Material guide
Choosing the right 3D printing material
The single biggest thing that decides whether a printed part lasts a year or falls apart in a week is the filament it's made from. This guide compares the materials PrintHub makers stock — by durability, cost, and what they're actually good for — so you can pick with confidence before you request a print.
How to decide in 30 seconds
Almost every material choice comes down to three questions. Answer them in order and the right filament usually becomes obvious.
- 01
Will it get hot?
If the part lives outdoors, in a car, near a motor, or in the sun, PLA is out — it softens around 60°C. Step up to PETG, then ABS or ASA as the temperature rises.
- 02
Does it need to take a hit?
Rigid and brittle (PLA) vs tough and slightly flexing (PETG, ABS) vs actually rubbery (TPU). Anything that snaps under stress wants PETG or ABS; anything that should squish wants TPU.
- 03
What's the budget?
PLA and PETG cost roughly the same and are the cheapest. ABS is close behind. ASA and TPU run a bit more. If nothing above pushed you off PLA, PLA is the right answer — it's the easiest, cheapest, and best-looking for the price.
The material comparison
Side by side: heat tolerance, durability, relative cost, and the jobs each filament is best — and worst — suited for.
| Material | Prints | Heat | Durability | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
🌱PLA The reliable default. Easy to print, looks great, costs the least. | Easy | ~60°C / 140°F | Rigid, brittle | Lowest |
|
🛡️PETG The all-rounder. Tough, slightly flexible, food-safe, weather-resistant. | Moderate | ~80°C / 176°F | Tough, semi-flexible | Low |
|
⚙️ABS The workhorse for heat and impact. What Lego is made of. | Hard | ~100°C / 212°F | Tough, impact-resistant | Low–Medium |
|
☀️ASA ABS's UV-stable cousin. Built for the outdoors. | Hard | ~95°C / 203°F | Tough, UV-resistant | Medium |
|
🤸TPU (Flexible) Rubber-like. Bends, squishes, absorbs shock. | Moderate | ~80°C / 176°F | Flexible, impact-absorbing | Medium |
|
Each material, in plain terms
The same five filaments, expanded — when to reach for each and when to leave it on the shelf.
PLA
The reliable default. Easy to print, looks great, costs the least.
Reach for it when
- Display models
- Figurines & miniatures
- Prototypes that won't get hot
- First-time prints
Avoid it for
- Anything left in a hot car
- Load-bearing or impact parts
- Dishwasher use
PETG
The all-rounder. Tough, slightly flexible, food-safe, weather-resistant.
Reach for it when
- Outdoor parts
- Functional brackets & clips
- Containers that get warm
- Parts that take a knock
Avoid it for
- Very high-heat environments
- Parts needing extreme rigidity
- Fine cosmetic detail (stringing)
ABS
The workhorse for heat and impact. What Lego is made of.
Reach for it when
- Car interior parts
- Enclosures for electronics
- Mechanical parts under load
- Parts that get hot
Avoid it for
- Unventilated spaces (fumes)
- Cosmetic displays left in sun
- Beginner setups without an enclosure
ASA
ABS's UV-stable cousin. Built for the outdoors.
Reach for it when
- Outdoor fixtures
- Garden & marine parts
- Anything exposed to sunlight long-term
Avoid it for
- Indoor-only cosmetic prints (cheaper to use PLA)
- Enclosure-free beginner printing
TPU (Flexible)
Rubber-like. Bends, squishes, absorbs shock.
Reach for it when
- Phone cases
- Grippers & feet
- Gaskets & seals
- Wearables
Avoid it for
- Structural rigidity
- Threads and tight tolerances
- High-temperature sealing
How material choice changes the price
On PrintHub, the print charge is calculated from the real mesh volume of your file, the material you pick, and the machine time it takes. The biggest lever in that formula is material cost per gram. PLA and PETG are the cheapest; ASA and TPU run a little more. If your part doesn't strictly need a tougher filament, choosing PLA keeps the quote as low as it goes — and PLA is the most widely stocked, so you're also more likely to get matched to a maker immediately.
Shipping is a flat $9.99 per order, regardless of material. You can see the exact price — material and machine time broken out — before you commit, on the quote screen.
Quick picker by use case
Skip the reading — here's the filament most makers would recommend for each common job.
- A display figurine or miniature
- PLA — best surface detail, lowest cost, no heat needed
- An outdoor bracket or garden part
- ASA or PETG — UV and weather resistance
- A car interior or engine-bay clip
- ABS — handles the heat and vibration
- A phone case or rubber-like grip
- TPU — flexes and absorbs drops
- A functional prototype I'll test hard
- PETG — tough without the fumes of ABS
- A gift or decorative object
- PLA — easy, cheap, and looks the best
- A container that holds warm liquid
- PETG — food-safe and heat-tolerant
Know what you need?
Upload your STL, pick the material from this guide, and PrintHub quotes the job and routes it to a maker who already stocks that filament. Backed by our 5-day guarantee.